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Well, looks like I'm getting back heavier into PC gaming. I just upgraded to an i7 rig and there are several PC titles that have my interest. My problem is my office is next to the kids bedroom and the master bedroom where my wife will be sleeping is just across the hall. I'm trying to decide what my best options are here for sound localization and VoIP. My onboard sound dumps some crazy RF interference on the headphone jack, so I'm installing an X-Fi Titanium that should be here any minute now. I was going to see if the CMSS 3D processing is worth a damn or if its the absolute dreck that I expect.

Currently I have the Senn HD 280s but obviously there's no mic. The PC 350 seems to be comparable in sound to the 280s, with an attached mic, but that's getting close to the cost of the 595s I want to pick up for general audio listening. I'm also wondering if these 5.1 headphones are to the point where they're actually worth using, I know the GWJ consensus on them seems fairly high.

So, what's my best setup to get quality sound, surround imaging, and voice communication? I saw that some GWJers (Thin_J and *Legion*) were using little desk puck mics but I'm concerned about broadcasting background noises (rampaging kids) even worse than I do now. I'm not adverse to a standalone mic, it's just my experience in the past hasn't been very favorable compared to a headset.

[Edit] Ha! I setup my Presonus Firebox and A/B'ed it against my onboard audio pushing my HD 280s. The headphone amp on the onboard sound is horrid. The phones really open up and sound driven off the Firebox. Hopefully the X-Fi can push them as well.

I don't know that any wireless headset works with both PS4 and Xbox One because of the way Microsoft proprietarized (a perfectly cromulent word) their headset connections. Probably the best you can do is get your headphones of choice that work with one console (see this December Polygon roundup for ideas), and connect them wired to your controller for the other console.

You can't go wrong with the Astro A50's. They're very popular. But since you initially mentioned a $30 headset, I suspect $300 is out of the price range you're looking for. You're not likely to find any reasonable quality without paying out some bucks though.

I use the Sony Platinum headset, and I love it, but that's not very helpful if you want an Xbox headset.

Looking for recommendations for the wife. She wants new headphones but just for casual listening. Her favorite are quite out of style and I can only find them in wired form. She likes the over the ear/outside ear sport clip loose cable kind of headphones. The only thing similar I am finding is the hard around the back of the head connected over the ear outside the ear phones.

\[T]/
Stenintendo: I always assumed that you were brothers called Robert and Hobert
Bighoppa: I'll try Hobear's suggestion now.
Oilypenguin: God dammit, Hobear.

So, I picked up some refurbed Sony WF-1000X Bluetooth headphones to use with my Pixel 2. They were $100 instead of the $200 list price. I wiped them off with isopropyl just for peace of mind even though I assume that was done to them. They looked fine. I don't know for sure if all the earbuds were replaced or not.

They're incredible. They really feel like a giant leap in tiny, in-ear, wireless headphone tech. For me, the fit is perfect. The noise cancelling is incredible, and the sound is completely acceptable. It has a tiny bit of tinniness to it, but it does have a decent low end, so it feels relatively balanced.

I haven't used them on my commute yet, but the battery life should last my 90ish minute commute and give me a chance to recharge them for the return commute. Given that the battery life and expense of these things are the two main tradeoffs, it works out pretty well for me since my commute works with the battery life and I found the refurbished version for 50% off.

Still searching for headphones as stated above but I have a quandary that may fit here.

I have noticed with especially Bluetooth devices that volume jumps a lot while near the low end. Seems to be either too loud or to low when wanting a nice between 2 or 3 volume settings from the lowest end. I have noticed this in speakers & headphones. I had one cheap speaker that adjusted it's own internal volume instead of the phone volume. Any suggestions or thoughts to fix this?

\[T]/
Stenintendo: I always assumed that you were brothers called Robert and Hobert
Bighoppa: I'll try Hobear's suggestion now.
Oilypenguin: God dammit, Hobear.

Still searching for headphones as stated above but I have a quandary that may fit here.

I have noticed with especially Bluetooth devices that volume jumps a lot while near the low end. Seems to be either too loud or to low when wanting a nice between 2 or 3 volume settings from the lowest end. I have noticed this in speakers & headphones. I had one cheap speaker that adjusted it's own internal volume instead of the phone volume. Any suggestions or thoughts to fix this?

My experience is that you're at the mercy of how it's setup and there is no fix, but if you do find something I'm so very listening because I have the same issue constantly.

Still searching for headphones as stated above but I have a quandary that may fit here.

I have noticed with especially Bluetooth devices that volume jumps a lot while near the low end. Seems to be either too loud or to low when wanting a nice between 2 or 3 volume settings from the lowest end. I have noticed this in speakers & headphones. I had one cheap speaker that adjusted it's own internal volume instead of the phone volume. Any suggestions or thoughts to fix this?

My experience is that you're at the mercy of how it's setup and there is no fix, but if you do find something I'm so very listening because I have the same issue constantly.

Found an app called volume by bytehamster that seems to fix my Bluetooth volume jump issue. Volume buttons don't seem to skip that low end step now. Ymmv

\[T]/
Stenintendo: I always assumed that you were brothers called Robert and Hobert
Bighoppa: I'll try Hobear's suggestion now.
Oilypenguin: God dammit, Hobear.

I cant' say how they compare to the HD 555, but I've got the 598 SR's at home and love the comfort and sound quality. I've got Sony MDR-V6's at work, and thought there wouldn't be much difference between the closed-backs there and the open-back 598 SR. However the open sound stage is definitely noticeable and makes it easier to single out and pinpoint specific sounds, be it in a game or music. The only problem with the sound is the usual open-back problem: I like my audio loud, and so they make a lot of noise around me that may or may not bother my wife if she's in the room.

The only other issue is the cord length for the 3.5MM jack. It's too short. I assume that's for easier phone use, but it's pretty annoying for computer use and kind of makes me want to replace my 598s with some nice wireless cans (when I have the money for the switch, that is).

I am looking for a pair of headphones that have a band that go around behind your head (Like this) but have noise isolation or noise cancelling. I am hoping for something lightweight as I will be wearing them to listen to music/audiobooks while outside or exercising. I cannot use earbuds as they constantly fall out of my ears and normal headphones make it hard/impossible to wear a hat. Do headphones like this exist?

I am looking for a pair of headphones that have a band that go around behind your head (Like this) but have noise isolation or noise cancelling. I am hoping for something lightweight as I will be wearing them to listen to music/audiobooks while outside or exercising. I cannot use earbuds as they constantly fall out of my ears and normal headphones make it hard/impossible to wear a hat. Do headphones like this exist?

I found these. I'm not sure about the noise cancelling, but they seem to be designed for exercising.

OKay, so here are the headphones I use now on my PC. Do any of you audiophiles out there know if it would be worth it for me to upgrade to something newer or are these still pretty decent by current standards? They work just fine, I'm just wondering if there are any significant quality upgrades out there I could be looking at.

OKay, so here are the headphones I use now on my PC. Do any of you audiophiles out there know if it would be worth it for me to upgrade to something newer or are these still pretty decent by current standards? They work just fine, I'm just wondering if there are any significant quality upgrades out there I could be looking at.

The only person who can answer that is you. Do they sound nice to you? Are they comfortable?

My guess is that, given that the headphones that replaced those when they were discontinued retails for $200, which is a better-than-entry-level pricepoint, you've probably got a solid pair of cans there that will last for years.

EDIT - according to this glowing review of them, they retailed for < $100, but were also "widely considered to be among the best-sounding headphones under $100". Which is to say, unless you're planning on upping that budget for your next pair, you're not going to see mad gainz.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

You've never known true joy until you've shaken a lich stick at someone.

The audiophile world is a treacherous one. It's challenging to be content with what you have

Unless you're willing to spend a lot more for an upgrade, or if you need closed headphones for sound leakage issues, or want more bass.... probably no reason to get anything new.

EDIT - according to this glowing review of them, they retailed for < $100, but were also "widely considered to be among the best-sounding headphones under $100". Which is to say, unless you're planning on upping that budget for your next pair, you're not going to see mad gainz.

Only time they would have dropped below $100 is probably used or on clearance. Pretty sure they were at least $150 if not $200 when being sold new.

No, if anything think about getting a dedicated DAC/Amp combo to go with them.
My rule for audio stuff is it's easiest to upgrade from nothing to something. The incremental something to something better upgrades can really kill you (I recently bought custom foam pads for headphones, please do not follow in my footsteps).